Well, an economic downturn is the perfect time to move on up in the real estate world. People who have overextended themselves -- or maybe have become empty-nesters in their 20-room houses -- are eager to sell.

What are the 10 biggest homes available in the Houston area right now? These. (We're not used to browsing the Houston Association of Realtors website for opulent homes -- for any homes, for that matter -- so forgive us if there are bigger manses out there.)

Bedrooms: FiveBathrooms: Only five, but three half-bathsSquare feet: 13,800Price: $8.6 millionSure, this 2009 home is not exactly huge, per se -- Reliant Stadium is much bigger, for instance -- but think of all the enjoyable hours you can spend looking at these drapes while working out.

Bedrooms: FiveBathrooms: Five and four half-bathsSquare footage: 15,038Price:$3,495,000This little shed is called the White House Ranch, but don't worry -- We're sure there aren't any socialist Muslims in this exclusive neighborhood!

Bedrooms: FiveBathrooms: SevenSquare footage: 15,696Price: $1,479,500Over 100 years old, zoned for residential or commercial use. Sounds like it might be a long walk to a bathroom from some places, though. Best feature, according to the listing: "Very minor damage during IKE."

Bedrooms: FiveBathrooms: Six and four half-bathsSquare footage: 16, 801 (Note: includes bowling lanes)Price: $4,150,000If you have trouble with the mortgage, you can always jack up the price for shoe rental.3. 21 Grand Manor, Sugar Land

Bedrooms: SixBathrooms: Eight and two half-bathsSquare footage: 18,094Price: $11 millionWe think the address is 21 Grand Manor, because apparently $11 mil doesn't buy you vowels -- the listing has it as "21 Grand Mnr." All we can say is at last we are over the 18,000 -square foot mark. Now we've got some room to stretch out. On very ugly bar chairs.

That may look like just any other library, but take a gander at the all-caps description from the listing: "2 STORY LIBRARY DONE IN MAGHONEY AND THIS IS THE FIRST FLOOR." You can't get maghoney like this just anywhere.